Sonos Play:5 smart speaker offers elegant features, at a hefty price

The new Sonos speaker-tuning software called “Trueplay” is the driving force behind the new flagship SONOS PLAY:5 smart speaker. With Trueplay, millions of listeners can easily tune their existing Sonos speakers to optimize the sound no matter where the speaker is placed. The new SONOS PLAY:5 is set to launch later this year but with a pretty hefty price-tag.

“Trueplay is a revolutionary system that gives music lovers confidence that they’re hearing what their favorite artists labored to produce, independent of the room’s acoustics and speaker location,” said CEO John MacFarlane. “Finally there’s a simple, reliable process that delivers studio-quality listening experiences in each room of the home.”

Using the Sonos app, the microphone on an iPhone or iPad, and a special tone emitted by the Sonos speaker, the system analyzes how sound reflects off walls, furnishings, glass and other surfaces in any given room. Sonos then smartly tunes that speaker so the music sounds its very best.

“Our remit at Sonos has evolved from constantly working to improve the general sound of all of our speakers to customizing them: first by room, and in the future, by person, activity and content,” said record producer, composer, and Sonos Sound Experience Leader Giles Martin. “We are obsessed with improving the home music experience, which must take into account acoustically unfriendly rooms. Tuning a room is the first of many software enhancements that make the experience richer and more personal for listeners whilst giving artists a whole new creative arena.”

Initially, Trueplay will be available on all SONOS PLAY:1, SONOS PLAY:3, SONOS PLAY:5 products and iOS controllers, and will continue to be added to the Sonos lineup over time.

As for the SONOS PLAY:5, the new flagship smart speaker was built with six synchronized, custom-designed driver. According to the company, “the speaker’s three mid-woofers create smooth mids and deep, powerful lows, and three tweeters deliver crystal clear highs at any volume. The array produces a soundstage that is much wider than expected in a single speaker, creating room-filling sound with precise separation of vocals and instruments.”

The new device will also work seamlessly with all Sonos smart speakers. The company also stated that the Sonos Play:5, “adds even greater modularity with the ability to act as rear speakers in home theater setups with SONOS PLAYBAR and SONOS SUBtm.”

Available in a custom matte black and matte white finish, the all-new SONOS PLAY:5 will retail for $499.